Iranamadu tilapia centre opens new jobs for women in North

The International Labour Organization (ILO), in collaboration with Cargills (Ceylon) PLC and with support from the Government of Norway, has launched the Iranamadu Tilapia culture-based production and semi processing centre in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province.

The facility marks a milestone in strengthening climate resilient aquaculture, expanding rural livelihoods, and creating decent employment opportunities for women.

The centre was developed under the ILO’s Promoting Advancement of Vulnerable Persons and Enterprises (PAVE) Project, funded by Norway, supporting inclusive development and climate resilient livelihoods in the North.

A key feature is its focus on women’s employment and skills development, creating jobs in fish handling, processing, quality assurance, and training in food safety, value addition, and enterprise development.

The initiative builds on Cargills’ engagement in the tilapia sector, including pilot work to expand demand for locally farmed tilapia through recipes and integration into its national supermarket network.

By linking smallholder fishing communities with private sector markets, the Iranamadu Freshwater Fishermen’s Cooperative Society has improved market access and engagement with large private sector actors.